For the first time in years, the College Football Playoff committee was faced with a difficult decision for the four-team playoff. And Florida State has every right to be furious about the teams the committee landed on.
Despite going undefeated and winning the ACC title, Florida State was dropped to No. 5 on the final CFP rankings, making them the first unbeaten team from a Power 5 conference to miss out on the playoff.
Instead, Alabama (12-1) jumped FSU after defeating then-top-ranked Georgia in the SEC title game. When that decision was announced, Florida State head coach Mike Norvell and his players were in visible disbelief.
You can tell just how upset Mike Norvell is for his players in this video.
All they did was win every game on their schedule.
An unforgivable and incompetent decision by the CFP that clearly just absolutely devastates this team: pic.twitter.com/bOabfKhRHJ
— Zach Blostein (@ZBlostein247) December 3, 2023
That was just the beginning. Shortly after the CFP selection show concluded, Florida State released a statement from Norvell. He didn’t hold back at all as the committee essentially penalized FSU for overcoming a tough injury to quarterback Jordan Travis.
From the head coach on today’s @CFBPlayoff Committee rankings#KeepCLIMBing pic.twitter.com/cnP4n8mcpr
— FSU Football (@FSUFootball) December 3, 2023
The way the season played out was always going to leave one team disappointed, but it’s awfully tough to leave out an undefeated Power 5 champion. No wonder fans appreciated the statement from Norvell.
This was how Twitter reacted
"Do you tell players it's OK to quit when someone goes down?"
I think this is what bothers me so much about this decision by the committee. It just flies in the face of what the sport preaches the other 364 days a year. https://t.co/bLaJG0Y4W6
— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) December 3, 2023
The right reaction here. https://t.co/4kPNeL0tLq
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) December 3, 2023
Florida State needs to fully commit to the bit and claim a national title if they win the Orange Bowl https://t.co/zb3yovTLmU
— Ben Axelrod (@BenAxelrod) December 3, 2023
It’s tough to argue what Mike Norvell is saying here. Strong words about being left out of the playoff. https://t.co/kzd4uvcBJa
— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) December 3, 2023
He’s right. Only sport where opinions matter more than the results. https://t.co/huMnf5Rbw9
— State of Louisville (@thestateoflou) December 3, 2023
Mike Norvell is rightfully livid. https://t.co/TgbDR0dEfX
— George (@gmwvheel) December 3, 2023
Good for Norvell for not holding back. https://t.co/wULLTNAk67
— Tyler Greever (@Tyler_Greever) December 3, 2023
TELL THEM COACH. The committee is a fraud. https://t.co/G4Y10tghNR
— Eli Adams (@mrseliadams) December 3, 2023
I mean, Norvell is right here. There’s not a thing he said that was false. https://t.co/arRv0RFxfQ
— Agent 711🎄 (@kwp1039) December 3, 2023
Agree completely with Norvell. https://t.co/NtI0iGHKsI
— Andrew Chernoff – WISH-TV (@ADChernoff) December 3, 2023
its almost like the entire way college football is run is based on television revenue and not sporting achievement… https://t.co/xuyLvi9bF7
— AZURA (@musicazura) December 3, 2023
We gotta get out of the ACC https://t.co/hJBvvCusVq
— Woody Dantzler Burner (@BurnerWoodyD) December 3, 2023
